By Steve Holland and Emily Stephenson | WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned late on Monday under scrutiny over whether he discussed the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia before Trump took office. Flynn submitted his resignation hours after Trump said through a spokesman that he was reviewing the situation and talking to Vice President Mike Pence. Flynn had promised Pence he had not discussed sanctions with the Russians but it was later discovered that the subject had come up. “Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and…

Israel says Peru’s fugitive former President Alejandro Toledo, wanted on corruption charges, will not be allowed to enter the country. His arrest was requested in Peru last week over allegations he took $20m (£16m) in bribes. He denies wrongdoing. The ex-leader was believed to be in San Francisco and could try to fly to Israel. He is a visiting professor at Stanford University and his wife, Eliane Karp, has Israeli citizenship. Mr Toledo, who governed from 2001 to 2006, is accused of receiving money from Brazilian building firm Odebrecht in return for a contract to build stretches of a highway…

Former German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been elected president by a parliamentary assembly. The Social Democrat, 61, is one of Germany’s most popular politicians. The post is largely ceremonial, but the president represents Germany abroad and is seen as carrying moral weight. During the US election campaign, the usually circumspect ex-lawyer described Donald Trump as a “hate preacher” and predicted more challenging relations with Washington. He has also criticised those who “make politics with fear”, and spoken out against right-wing populism. ‘Straight-talking’ Mr Steinmeier was chosen by the Federal Assembly meeting in parliament in Berlin. He won 931 out…

Vincent Viola, an infantry veteran and founder of a high-speed trading firm nominated by Donald Trump to be secretary of the army, has withdrawn his name from consideration. China accuses US of putting stability of Asia Pacific at risk Read more A Trump administration official confirmed that Viola had withdrawn. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. A Pentagon statement on Friday night said defence secretary James Mattis was “disappointed but understands and respects” Viola’s decision, adding that it would make another recommendation soon. The Military Times, which first reported the news,…

The State Department Saturday morning reversed the revocation of up to 60,000 visas from foreigners from seven Muslim-majority countries following a federal judge’s ruling that immediately halted President Trump’s immigration order, according to reports. The department says that for now, people covered by the order and holding a valid visa may now travel to the United States. On Friday, the State Department announced that the 60,000 visas had been provisionally revoked to comply with President Trump’s temporary ban on travel. Federal judge James Robart, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush in 2003, ruled Friday that the executive order…

The Department of Homeland Security says it has suspended “any and all actions” regarding President Trump’s ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the United States, though it plans to file an emergency stay on the ruling halting it. “At the earliest possible time, the Department of Justice intends to file an emergency stay of this order and defend the President’s Executive Order, which is lawful and appropriate,” spokesperson Gillian Christensen said in a statement, as first reported by BuzzFeed News. Homeland Security said in its statement that it was suspending “any and all actions implementing the affected sections”…